Feared by ten out of ten moms, choking is a villain that greatly haunts anyone who has a newborn. What mom hasn’t found herself next to her baby checking if everything is fine with their breathing and sleep? Mother’s instincts! But choking is different, it can happen out of nowhere even in tiny babies who are just a few days old. Choking in babies can be due to milk reflux, meaning the milk comes back up from the stomach into the mouth. Choking can also occur just with saliva, and especially during breastfeeding! That’s why moms should take precautions with their newborns starting in the maternity ward so that scary choking episodes can be avoided.
What is choking after all?
Choking is nothing more than food or drink going down the wrong way; instead of going down the throat and into the stomach, food or liquid enters the airways, since these are neighbors in the trachea. Although the airway has a “cap” that works as a blockade to prevent anything from entering the lungs, smaller babies can have a somewhat delayed reflex in this bodily defense system. Older babies and children may even put small objects in their mouths like coins, pen caps, small toy parts, and many other things. These pieces can block airflow, causing a breathing obstruction—and for this reason it’s very important to keep small, risky items away from little kids and babies who can already crawl and walk.
How to prevent your newborn from choking?
Ever seen a hungry baby nursing? They go at it with gusto! A breast full of milk can provide gulp after gulp of satisfaction for the baby, but an overly full breast can also cause scary choking episodes. Women with an abundant supply of breast milk can express the excess before feeding. This milk can be stored for future feedings or even donated. Giving the baby a chance to breathe may also be necessary, so if you notice your baby running out of breath, remove the breast from their mouth so they can catch their breath. If your baby needs formula supplementation, bottles with an anti-choke nipple are available on the market. These nipples have a hole similar to that of a breast, so less liquid comes through, reducing the risk of choking.
A simple way to avoid choking from reflux in babies is to keep them elevated for a few minutes after feedings—about 20 minutes can help the milk settle better in the stomach and prevent choking. Even if the baby burps, choking from reflux can still happen, so it’s best to keep them more “upright” or hold them standing up in your arms a little longer for safety. In addition, there are baby seats that keep a baby elevated, which is a big help in a mom’s daily routine. In older babies, choking may also happen due to accidents with objects, so the first thing to do is to keep anything that could cause a choking accident out of reach.
Baby is choking, what to do?
Staying calm is very hard at this moment, but quick thinking is essential so that the right steps can be taken to dislodge the object and help the baby. A choking baby needs help fast and knowing what to do in these situations is necessary to avoid bigger problems. There are techniques like back blows that are extremely helpful to clear the airway. Recognizing a choking baby can be simple; usually babies become listless or appear to gasp for air, as if opening their mouth but unable to make any sound. After brief moments without air, the skin can take on a different color, reddish or even bluish. Back blows should be done in cases of smaller babies who are just breastfeeding; turning the baby face down and resting them on your leg can help a lot. Gentle pats on the back with the baby in a prone position can also be effective. In cases where a baby loses consciousness, seek help and immediately start clearing maneuvers like back blows.
See how to do back blows in babies and children over 2 years old
Babies or older children who choke on food or an object—whoever is helping should never try to pull out the object, since trying to remove it may push it in further and make the situation worse. In older children, back blows also work, but are done differently. Apply pressure on the abdomen gently, two finger-widths below the chest bone, to push the diaphragm and help expel the food or object blocking the airway.
A child who is coughing is a good sign—the more they cough, the better, as it indicates that the blockage is being expelled. If the baby faints, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation should be performed; continue until help arrives. Calling emergency services is also a good option—they can guide you on what to do in a desperate moment. The emergency fire department number is 193, and the military police, who are also able to help, can be reached at 190.
See also: Household Accidents – How to Prevent Scares
Photo: donnierayjones
